By Phil Norris April 30, 2024
Handmade merchandise are large cash, with the North American handicrafts market anticipated to be price an astonishing $744.1 billion by 2032.
If you wish to declare your slice of that scrumptious (home made) pie, you must select the appropriate ecommerce platform to your wants. One which’s:
- Straightforward to make use of
- Reasonably priced
- Reliable
Etsy has lengthy been the go-to alternative for promoting handmade gadgets. However lately, the platform has been beset by unfavourable headlines over choices to improve transaction charges and withhold sellers’ cash…
…prompting many retailers to hunt out alternate options to promoting on Etsy.
That will help you out, we’ve rounded up 13 of the very best Etsy alternate options, from family names like Amazon and Shopify to lesser-known platforms like Finnalby and Artwork within the Coronary heart.
Let’s get into it…
Finnalby
Who’re they?
Finnalby is without doubt one of the latest children on the handmade gadgets block, having launched in September 2023. Billed as an impartial market for artisans and impartial retailers, it focuses on handicrafts, wholesale merchandise, on-line programs, and tutorials.
👍 Professionals
- Finnalby vets all merchandise listed as “Strictly Handmade” to make sure authenticity, which means you received’t be competing with cut-price bulk producers.
- In addition to promoting handmade gadgets, you can also make cash from on-line programs and tutorials. Plus you possibly can promote the merchandise required to take part in your lessons, providing you with the potential to generate a number of gross sales from the identical buyer.
- The platform provides a easy and reasonably priced charge construction, charging a flat 5.5% fee on all gross sales.
👎 Cons
- Finnalby is at the moment solely out there within the US, so for those who (or your viewers) are primarily based elsewhere, you’ll have to search for completely different Etsy alternate options.
- The platform remains to be comparatively unknown; at time of writing, the time period “Finnalby” solely generated 90 international searches a month on Google, per Ahrefs. So that you shouldn’t count on a lot passing site visitors.
- Its lack of brand name consciousness could postpone potential clients who haven’t heard of the platform.
What do retailers say about them?
Sadly, we are able to’t let you know — they’re so new we couldn’t discover any critiques!
Charges
Finnalby fees a flat 5.5% per sale fee, with no itemizing charges or month-to-month charges.
Shopify
Who’re they?
Shopify is without doubt one of the world’s greatest ecommerce platforms, with Shopify retailers producing mixed gross sales of $235.9 billion in 2023. In contrast to marketplaces like Amazon and Etsy, Shopify offers you the instruments to construct and handle your individual devoted on-line retailer, with the pliability to promote just about something you need.
👍 Professionals
- Shopify allows you to construct your individual handmade gadgets retailer from scratch, providing you with whole management over your branding, merchandise, and pricing.
- Since you’re operating an impartial retailer, you’re not competing with tons of (or 1000’s) of different retailers on the identical platform.
- With 1000’s of apps and tons of of themes to select from, Shopify allows you to customise your retailer to your particular wants.
- Shopify’s prebuilt themes will let you launch and customise your retailer with out requiring any coding expertise.
👎 Cons
- Constructing and sustaining an on-line retailer is dearer than operating an Etsy retailer.
- Organising a beautiful, high-converting retailer can take days or perhaps weeks of labor.
What do retailers say about them?
“Straightforward to arrange, straightforward to make use of. Many built-in merchandise to assist me get issues carried out. Straightforward-to-use built-in apps. Buyer assist is excellent. I exploit it on daily basis.”
– Jim E., G2 buyer reviewer
Charges
Shopify fees a subscription of $9 – $2,300+ per thirty days, relying on the options you require. It additionally has a web-based bank card processing charge, which varies relying in your value plan and site (e.g. retailers within the US pay 2.4% – 2.9%, plus $0.30 per transaction).
Artisans Cooperative
Who’re they?
In the event you’re searching for alternate options to Etsy which might be 100% devoted to handmade gadgets, Artisans Cooperative might be for you. {The marketplace} has a human-driven verification course of to make sure all merchandise are made by real artisans, so that you received’t be competing with bulk producers. This helps retailers cost a good value for his or her items.
👍 Professionals
- All purposes made by way of Artisans Cooperative’s voluntary verification course of are manually checked by two human reviewers, so clients could be certain the merchandise they’re shopping for are made by real artisans.
- Retailers can entry in depth advertising and marketing and promotional assist, together with a branding equipment, advertising and marketing plan, and social media toolkit.
👎 Cons
- The platform remains to be comparatively unknown, with only some hundred followers on Fb and Instagram, and minimal search quantity for its model identify.
- Membership prices and transaction charges are increased than most different marketplaces.
What do retailers say about them?
“I like that my handmade work has a spot amongst a group of different authentically handmade artisan merchandise. I actually admire that Artisans Cooperative places its artisans first. And it’s precisely {the marketplace} I need to do my procuring in, too.”
Charges
Artisans Cooperative fees gross sales commissions of 8% – 12%, relying in your membership degree. To unlock probably the most engaging charges (and numerous different advantages), you’ll must pay a buy-in charge of $100 – $1,000.
DeviantArt
Who’re they?
DeviantArt is part-marketplace, part-social community, however wholly devoted to showcasing artworks from impartial creatives. Members add tens of 1000’s of authentic items on daily basis, from work to digital artwork to sculpture to movies. The platform has 90+ million registered members and hosts over 550 million artworks.
👍 Professionals
- Sellers can faucet into an enormous, engaged group of artwork lovers.
- Membership and transaction charges are comparatively low, particularly for authentic commissions.
- Organising a vendor profile is fast and straightforward.
- Teams and boards offer you a straightforward solution to interact with different members of the artwork group, get suggestions, and promote your work.
👎 Cons
What do retailers say about them?
“DeviantArt is nice! The structure is person pleasant, the group is nice and I’ve had an account on there for just a few years now.”
– Aron, Trustpilot reviewer
Charges
DeviantArt fees a membership charge of $7.95 – $14.95 per thirty days (though it usually provides discounted charges on these costs). Transaction charges vary from 0% – 20% per sale, relying in your membership tier and the product sort you’re promoting.
Handmade
Who’re they?
Handmade is one other market specializing in handcrafted gadgets, from style to residence decor to jewellery. All sellers on the platform should take Handmade’s moral pledge, underneath which they decide to deal with the surroundings, do enterprise in a accountable approach, and respect different artisans’ mental property.
👍 Professionals
- Handmade has a big viewers, with clients in 100+ nations.
- New sellers get free platform charges for the primary 12 months and may listing their first 50 merchandise freed from cost.
- Energetic retailers can invite as much as 5 different sellers, then earn bonuses on the gross sales they generate, providing you with an entire different income stream.
- Handmade is owned by Novica, which has partnerships with large international manufacturers and organizations just like the Nationwide Geographic Society and the Grassroots Enterprise Fund.
👎 Cons
- The transaction and bank card charges are dearer than another marketplaces.
What do retailers say about them?
“Thanks for the arrogance and perseverance in being a part of our progress course of. You might have proven us a brand new market with many alternatives to proceed rising and exhibiting the traditions that outline us.”
– Delfina Ruiz, weaver and Handmade service provider
Charges
After the primary 12 months, Handmade fees a flat month-to-month charge of $3, whereas customary itemizing charges are $0.15 per merchandise. Retailers additionally must pay transaction charges of 9.9% plus $1.95 per sale, in addition to bank card charges of three% plus $0.49.
Amazon Market
Who’re they?
Let’s be trustworthy: you recognize what Amazon is. Market is the platform’s service for third-party sellers, permitting them to generate gross sales by reaching Amazon’s enormous buyer base. Consumers on Amazon purchase roughly 7,400 merchandise a minute from sellers within the US.
👍 Professionals
- Amazon is without doubt one of the world’s most trusted ecommerce platforms. If somebody finds your merchandise on the platform, they’ll really feel fairly assured they received’t get ripped off or have their card particulars stolen.
- Faucet into a worldwide viewers of 310+ million lively clients.
- You can begin itemizing merchandise on Amazon in a matter of minutes.
- Make the most of extra providers like Success by Amazon.
👎 Cons
- Competitors from different sellers is big, making it powerful to your merchandise to face out.
- Relying on the forms of handmade gadgets you’re promoting, Amazon’s referral charges can eat up as a lot as 45% of your earnings.
What do retailers say about them?
“Once we launched on Amazon, I had expectations that Amazon could be about 10% to twenty% of our whole enterprise. Throughout the first six months, it was 50%. It simply exploded. And it actually modified the way in which I thought of the way forward for our enterprise.”
– Dee Murthy, Co-Founder, New Republic
Charges
Amazon has two vendor plans:
- Particular person: $0.99 per merchandise bought
- Skilled: $39.99 per thirty days
You’ll pay referral charges of as much as 45% per sale, relying on the product class. Plus there’s an additional value for providers like Amazon Adverts and Success by Amazon, and extra charges for retailers with excessive listings volumes.
Who’re they?
My Group Made (MCM) isn’t particularly devoted to handmade gadgets, nevertheless it is centered on supporting small companies. Retailers on the platform promote all the things from customised gifts to classic treasures to distinctive artworks throughout a variety of classes, together with style, jewellery, and inside design. All merchandise on {the marketplace} are made within the US.
👍 Professionals
- In all probability the most cost effective of all of the alternate options to promoting on Etsy.
- The MCM staff ensures all merchandise on the positioning are handmade, self-designed, or classic — so that you received’t be competing with bulk producers or dropshippers.
- Sellers can add key phrases to their product metadata to face out in search outcomes on the platform.
- Prospects can comply with your retailer and get updates if you add new merchandise, rising your possibilities of driving repeat gross sales.
👎 Cons
- Lacks the model consciousness of bigger platforms like Amazon and Etsy.
- Just for merchandise made or designed within the US.
- Higher restrict of fifty product listings at a closing dates scalability.
What do retailers say about them?
“I began promoting on My Group Made early final 12 months. I even have an Etsy store. MCM is by much more user-friendly, and the charges, if any, are cheap. I don’t really feel misplaced on this platform as I do on Etsy. Vendor assist is past wonderful. There may be all the time a fast response and an answer to any drawback, even for those who’re not that techy.”
– V. Chin, Trustpilot buyer evaluate
Charges
My Group Made doesn’t cost any transaction charges. You’ll be able to listing as much as 5 gadgets at a time with a completely free account, or improve to the Fundamental Package deal for $5 per thirty days to listing 10 occasions extra merchandise.
IndieMade
Who’re they?
IndieMade launched in 2010 with the imaginative and prescient of offering creators with a user-friendly internet presence to advertise their merchandise. In contrast to platforms like Etsy and Amazon, IndieMade isn’t a market. As a substitute, it’s an impartial web site builder that permits retailers to create their very own on-line area.
👍 Professionals
- Use IndieMade to create your individual, distinctive web site, with full management over your retailer’s look and advertising and marketing.
- Easy charge construction; you solely pay for the options you want, with zero transaction charges.
- In the event you already promote on Etsy, you possibly can create a retailer by way of IndieMade and listing your Etsy merchandise in minutes.
👎 Cons
- You’ll must construct your individual viewers somewhat than concentrating on guests to an current market.
- Far fewer themes and apps than different ecommerce web site builders (like Shopify).
What do retailers say about them?
“I simply can’t imagine how nice my expertise has been. I’ve used Weebly, HostMonster, and HostGator — NO one has assist such as you guys do. I want I had been with you 5 years in the past! I’m certain my enterprise could be a lot larger if I had. I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH! I’ve NEVER had such nice tech assist, EVER! IndieMade rocks.”
– Sierra, Dakotadesigns
Charges
IndieMade’s paid plans vary in value from $4.95 – $19.95 per thirty days.
Artwork within the Coronary heart
Who’re they?
Artwork within the Coronary heart is a UK-based platform that helps retailers promoting handcrafted items, artworks, and different distinctive gadgets. It began out as a bodily retailer, earlier than transitioning into a web-based market in 2018.
👍 Professionals
- Artwork within the Coronary heart lets you import your current Etsy merchandise to your new storefront.
- The platform doesn’t have any month-to-month platform fees or itemizing charges.
- Create a singular storefront with its personal on-line handle and leverage the easy-to-use vendor dashboard to trace gross sales.
👎 Cons
- Artwork within the Coronary heart takes 25% of each sale you generate.
- It doesn’t have a ton of brand name consciousness (particularly exterior the UK), so you possibly can’t rely solely on the platform’s personal site visitors.
What do retailers say about them?
“I’m very proud to be a vendor on the Artwork within the Coronary heart on-line retailer. It’s a actually distinctive eclectic mixture of shops introduced collectively by the inspiring CEO Daybreak Birch-James. In a world stuffed with shops that inventory the identical mundane work, Artwork within the Coronary heart is a breath of recent air.”
– Susie Lidstone, high quality artist and Artwork within the Coronary heart service provider
Charges
Artwork within the Coronary heart doesn’t have month-to-month or per-listing charges — nevertheless it does cost a 25% fee in your gross sales, which is fairly steep.
Goimagine
Who’re they?
Goimagine is a market for US-based artisans to advertise and promote handmade gadgets, together with bodily merchandise and digital c/reations like graphics and pictures. In addition to supporting impartial creators, the platform is dedicated to social good, donating 100% of income to youngsters’s charities like Horizons for Homeless Youngsters and Reduction Nursery.
👍 Professionals
- Goimagine’s dedication to donating all income to charity appeals to ethically acutely aware shoppers.
- {The marketplace} runs its personal Maker Enterprise Academy, providing suggestions to assist makers promote on-line, construct a model, and obtain their progress targets.
- Goimagine has higher model consciousness than most impartial Etsy alternate options, serving to retailers attain a wider viewers.
👎 Cons
- Just for retailers who reside and make merchandise within the US.
- The rules on what constitutes a “handmade product” are fairly strict, which can exclude some potential retailers.
What do retailers say about them?
“I’m a purchaser/vendor on goimagine, I like the quick responses from actual individuals when I’ve a query. It’s straightforward to make use of and I’m comfortable to be on a platform that donates income to youngsters’s charities.”
– Stephanie Stone, Trustpilot reviewer
Charges
Goimagine fees a month-to-month charge of $2.50 – $10, relying on the variety of merchandise you need to listing and the platform options you need to use. It additionally has a 5% transaction charge and a fee processing charge of two.9% plus $0.30.
Making App
Who’re they?
Making App is an Android and iOS app that permits particular person creators to host and promote their very own digital patterns and initiatives. Nevertheless, the platform has plans to increase into extra on-line areas and new product classes going ahead.
👍 Professionals
- Faucet right into a ready-made group of twenty-two,000+ members.
👎 Cons
- At present just for makers creating and promoting digital patterns and initiatives.
- You’ll be able to solely promote to individuals who obtain the app on Android or iOS.
What do retailers say about them?
“As a new-ish knitter, Making places inspiration, mission monitoring and connecting with a educated and pleasant group within the palm of my hand––can’t think about creating with out it!”
– MKE Maker, Making App service provider
Charges
Making App fees 8% per transaction. You’ll additionally must pay Stripe’s fee processing charge of two.9% plus $0.30 per transaction and 0.25% plus $0.25 per payout (though these charges will likely be waived for sellers who make <$50).
iCraft
Who’re they?
iCraft is a Toronto-based platform for artists, craftspeople, and designers who create handmade, one-of-a-kind artwork, crafts, and style merchandise. Retailers can use iCraft to showcase their ready-made merchandise and settle for commissions for customized orders.
👍 Professionals
- iCraft’s area of interest focus and dedication to handmade creators means you aren’t competing with bulk sellers.
- The platform usually promotes sellers by way of its “Within the Highlight” weblog and month-to-month newsletters.
- Promote your merchandise to an engaged viewers; iCraft attracts ~200,000 guests a month, with a mean go to time of 4 minutes.
👎 Cons
- Requires a non-refundable upfront charge to hitch the platform.
- The platform seems to be a bit of dated, which could postpone some potential clients.
What do retailers say about them?
“I’ve discovered that my jewellery receives many extra views on iCraft than on another venues! Being a venue just for handmade, the procuring site visitors that involves iCraft is barely searching for high quality handmade items and they’re certain to search out distinctive crafted gadgets.”
– Linda, AKA GalleriaLinda, iCraft service provider
Charges
iCraft fees platform charges of $10 – $15 per thirty days, relying on the size of your contract, plus a one-off upfront fee of $25. It doesn’t cost another hidden charges.
Massive Cartel
Who’re they?
Massive Cartel offers creators the instruments to construct their very own websites promoting T-shirts, artwork, merchandise, prints, and extra. Launched in 2005, the platform has supported over three million shops and generated $2.5+ billion in international gross sales.
👍 Professionals
- Get began quick with a free Massive Cartel template or code your individual distinctive on-line retailer from scratch.
- Select from three easy plans, together with a beneficiant free-for-life plan.
- Combine with tons of of third-party ecommerce apps, protecting all the things from advertising and marketing to retailer administration to achievement.
👎 Cons
- Affords fewer web site templates and fewer customization than Shopify (though all its templates are free).
- Restricted scalability, with an higher restrict of 500 product listings per retailer.
What do retailers say about them?
“What I like about promoting my jewellery by way of Massive Cartel is how straightforward every step, from designing my retailer entrance to itemizing merchandise and managing orders, has been and continues to be. It takes all the effort out of it, so I can spend extra time doing the factor I like probably the most — making jewellery.”
– Anarres Steel, jewellery maker and Massive Cartel service provider
Charges
Massive Cartel doesn’t take a minimize of any gross sales you generate. As a substitute, it provides a free-for-life plan that lets you listing as much as 5 merchandise, whereas its paid plans vary in value from $15 – $30 per thirty days (or much less for those who pay yearly).
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